Project description:BAT activation for thermogenesis is a physiological mechanism that maintains body temperature during cold exposure. However, how BAT is dynamically activated and preserve its sustained activation in cold is not completely understood. In this study, we identified soluble ST2 (sST2) mediates a WAT-to-BAT endocrine mechanism, which is required for constant BAT activation during cold exposure. Specific depletion of sST2 isoform blocks the alternative thermogenesis upon BAT denervation and leads to cold sensitive in a prolong cold exposure. Mechanistically, sST2 is induced and secreted from eWAT by the Adrb1/2 signaling driven Creb1 activation. The secreted sST2 directly binds to the Adrb3 receptor in BAT and in synergy with NE to induce BAT thermogenesis, which is independent of IL33. Additionally, supplement of sST2 induces beige fat formation in mice and humans. Therefore, our study demonstrated eWAT derived adipokine sST2 functions on BAT activation as a novel mechanism in sustained activation of thermogenesis of BAT in cold exposure. More importantly, sST2 may serve as an emerging therapeutic approach in combine with b3 receptor agonist for obesity treatment.
Project description:To study the gene expression profiles of brown (BAT) and white (WAT) adipose tissues in wild type and LR11-deficeint mice. The four RNA sources, WT scWAT, Lr11 -/- scWAT, WT BAT and Lr11 -/- BAT, were prepared from subcutaneous WAT and BAT from wild-type mice and Lr11 -/- mice, respectively (n=3 each).
Project description:Coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, can cause severe disease in humans, whereas reservoir hosts like Rhinolophus bats appear to remain asymptomatic for reasons that are not well-recognized. To understand how host-specific protein-protein interactions (PPIs) shape infection outcomes, we generated comparative PPI maps for SARS-CoV-2 and its close bat-originating relative, RaTG13, using affinity purification-mass spectrometry (AP-MS) in human and Rhinolophus ferrumequinum (RFe) bat cells. Our analysis revealed both conserved as well as virus- and host-specific PPIs, pointing to key interactions that regulate infection dynamics across species. SARS-CoV-2 required a non-synonymous mutation at the RNA-binding domain of the viral N protein to replicate in the RFe bat cells. Moreover, comparative analysis of the viral protein Orf9b revealed differential interactions with the human and bat mitochondrial proteins Tom70 and MTARC2, and modulating virus replication. A single residue in SARS-CoV-2 Orf9b serves as a molecular switch between these interactions, with a T72I substitution weakening Tom70 binding and reducing its ability to counteract innate immune activation. These findings demonstrate how a single-residue substitution can reshape virus-host interactions and contribute to immune evasion and host adaptation.
Project description:Extensive remodeling of host gene expression by coronaviruses nsp1 proteins is a well-documented and conserved aspect of coronavirus-host takeover. Using comparative transcriptomics we investigate the diversity of transcriptional targets between nsp1 proteins between α- and β- coronaviruses. Additionally, Affinity Purification Mass-Spectrometry was implemented to identify common and divergent interactors between the nsp1 proteins. While we detected widespread RNA destabilization between the different nsp1s, closely related nsp1 showed little similarities in clustering of targeted genes. Partial overlapping transcriptional targeting between α-CoV 229E and MERS nsp1 may suggest a shared similar targeting mechanism, as MERS nsp1 preferentially targets nuclear transcripts. Our interactome data shows great variance between nsp1 interactions, with 229E nsp1, the smallest tested here, interacts with the most host proteins, while MERS nsp1 only engaged with a few. While nsp1 is a rather well-conserved protein with consistent functions across different coronaviruses, its precise effects on host cells is virus-specific.
Project description:We are reporting here the effects of adaptation to different ambient temperatures in the whole genome gene expression of interscapular BAT of BAT specific Akt2 knockout mice
Project description:BAT activation for thermogenesis is a physiological mechanism that maintains body temperature during cold exposure. However, how BAT is dynamically activated and preserve its sustained activation in cold is not completely understood. In this study, we identified soluble ST2 (sST2) mediates a WAT-to-BAT endocrine mechanism, which is required for constant BAT activation during cold exposure. Specific depletion of sST2 isoform blocks the alternative thermogenesis upon BAT denervation and leads to cold sensitive in a prolong cold exposure. Mechanistically, sST2 is induced and secreted from eWAT by the Adrb1/2 signaling driven Creb1 activation. The secreted sST2 directly binds to the Adrb3 receptor in BAT and in synergy with NE to induce BAT thermogenesis, which is independent of IL33. Additionally, supplement of sST2 induces beige fat formation in mice and humans. Therefore, our study demonstrated eWAT derived adipokine sST2 functions on BAT activation as a novel mechanism in sustained activation of thermogenesis of BAT in cold exposure. More importantly, sST2 may serve as an emerging therapeutic approach in combine with b3 receptor agonist for obesity treatment.